Petunia plant named ‘Balcushurp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balcushurp’, characterized by its dark reddish-purple colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcushurp’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcushurp’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during July 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars with single-type flowers, unique flower coloration and patterns, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Cascadias Rim Chianti ‘DCAS301’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,238, characterized by its red-purple and white bi-colored flowers in a picotee color pattern, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-training growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIA Flamingo ‘BHTUN6202’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,486, characterized by its light purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, low mounding, compact, spreading to trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2016 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2016 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcushurp’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Dark reddish-purple colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in not having a picotee flower-color pattern and in having greater growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having greater plant height and plant width and in having more purple flower coloration.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIA ROYAL MAGENTA ‘INPETROYMA’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,811. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘INPETROYMA’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that has more         purple color than plants of ‘INPETROYMA’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and wider than plants         of ‘INPETROYMA’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcushurp’. The plants were approximately 3.5 months old and grown in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcushurp’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcushurp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 3.5-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia x hybrida ‘Balcushurp’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Cascadias Rim Chianti ‘DCAS301’, U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 27,238.         -   Male parent.—SUPERTUNIA Flamingo ‘BHTUN6202’, U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 25,486. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in an 11 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 17.0 cm. Width: Approximately 49.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 27.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.7 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Rounded. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             4.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.3 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: 138A with venation of 147C to             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 147C to             indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately             2.5 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcushurp’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 12. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 5.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             8.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of petal portion: N77B with venation of N186A. Color of             tube: 147B with an overlay of N77B, venation of N186A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 4.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex:             Cuspidate. Length from tube: Approximately 1.8 cm. Length of             free portion: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width: Approximately             2.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface when first open: Closest             to but darker than NN78A tinted with N80A, venation of             N186A. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:             Closest to N77B, venation of N77A. Color of upper surface             when fully open: Closest to NN78A tinted with N80A, venation             of N186A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless. Color of inner surface: N77B with heavy             venation of N186A. Color of outer surface: 147B with an             overlay of N77B, venation of N186A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             2.5 cm. Width: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface: 138A. Color of lower             surface: 138A with 144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: NN155A with an overlay of 86A at anther attachment.             Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: N186A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             95C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: N186A. Style             length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Style color: 145B. Ovary             length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balcushurp’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 